85 Things You Should Know About Prophecy in Our Time by W. v. Grant, Sr

8/2/2019 85 Things You Should Know About Prophecy in Our Time by W. v. Grant, Sr

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PI J\cr:, I J\MP~IIIII

:Jail/' ClinicP . O . BOX 353OALLAS , TEXAS 75221

COMPLETE COMMENTARYON

SPIRITUAL GIFTSVOLUME ONE


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Books by Rev . W . V . Gran .SOc each or all twelve books for $5.00Or.r fr.m GItANT'S FAITH CLINIC

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EIGHTY-FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUTTHE GIFT OF PROPHECY TODAYDOES THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF PROPHECY FORE-TELL TH E FUTURE?There is a difference in the prophet of the Old Testament,who was a seer, and the Spirit filled Christian today, whohas the Spiritual gift of prophecy.Read First Samuel and you will see that the prophetSamuel could look into the future and tell things whichshould come to pass. But Saul, who leaves no record of fore-telling the future, prophesied when the Spirit of the Lordcame upon him.The gift of prophecy, which is a gift of utterance, mayor may not speak of the future. By this gift the Lordmay speak of the past, present, or future. It is one of thethree gifts to speak which God has set in the Church.It is as much a miracle of speech as the gift of tongues orthe gift of interpretation.THEN WHAT IS THE GIFT OF PROPHECY WHICH

GOD HAS SET IN THE CHURCH?The Spiritual _g-ift of prophecy is a supernatural utter-ance, a gift of utterance, just as interpretation, except therehas been no message in tongues. It is a miracle of speech.It is a supernatural utterance in' your own language. It isforth telling, or a flowing forth.IS TIlE PROPHECY SPOKEN IN THE FIRST, SEC-OND, on THIRD PERSON?It may be in the first, second. or third person, depend-ing upon the choice of the one who is doing the speaking.Prophecy may be in the third person, as "The Lord says

that I-Ie is gracious, merciful, and slow to anger."Itmay be in the second person, as, "The Lord is gracious,merciful, and slow to anger."Itmay be in the first person, as, "I am gracious, merci-ful, and slow to anger."IS IT BEST TO SPEAK PROPHECY IN THE FIRST,SECOND, on TIIII-t!) PERSON?Most people agree that it is better to prophesy in thesecond person, as it does .not put all the responsibility onthe Lord. The gift is infallible, but people are not.The Lord gives LIS the message. We use our Own vocabu--1-


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lary to speak that message. We choose the words to deliverour soul. God anoints those words.Just as the Lord gives a preacher a message, as he speaks

out that message under the anointing, using his own words,so it works with the Spiritual gift of prophecy in most cases.Another preacher may speak, using the same message,

but different words meaning the same thing. Two peoplemay prophesy, speaking different words, but delivering thesame message.The second speaker may use more or less words than thefirst speaker.IS TIlE GIFT OF PROPHECY GIVEN ALIKE TO

EVERYONE?I have told you the way prophecy is given most of thetime. lOWQVCI' we can't put the Lord in a straight jacketand require Him to work alike with everyone. We can'trun everyone through the same "cookie cutter." The Lordis yct sovereign and may work in anyway He chooses towork.Concerning the Spiritual gifts there are diversities of

operation ( o J : Cor. 12:6).Some few folk say they see words written on the wall

or in the air in gold letters. That would be a rare exceptionrather than the rule.IS IT POSSIBLE THAT ONE WITH THE GI?r OF

PROPHECY MIGHT BE MISTAKEN?The mistake could be with the speaker and not with

the gift. The human can make a mistake, but the Spirit ofGod cannot make a mistake. A man may make a mistake andfail to receive the anointing of the Spirit, but the anointingof the Spirit is always right.IS PROPHECY EVER OF THE DEVIL?A drunkard lying in a mud hole or in a road house

may murmur and jabber. He may be possessed with thed vii, but that is not prophecy. Itmight possibly be a coun-tcrfcit. But I have never seen that in church. We don't(\ prophecy manifested until we first chase all evil spirits

I \WlLY and cover the place with the blood by faith in God.Horne time people who don't live right prophesy in church.

'1 '1 1 ( 1 11 R o m people call it devil inspired. But it is dangerous10 IIny such a thing. It is the most cruel thing that you

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can say about anyone.To say that one is using the power of the devil when he is

not is to put fear into the heart of people and make themafraid to seek the Holy Ghost, for fear they might getthe devil. If the speaker happens to be under the anointingof the Spirit, then you are blaspheming the Holy Ghostto say that, and committing the unpardonable sin, (Matt.12 :32).Ihave checked and watched people for thirty-five years;in most cases the speaker is sincere. He may not have beenliving right last week, but God may have forgiven him thismorning, while you are remembering what he did yesterday.God is more merciful than we are. Man is prone to be un-merciful and cruel. The Lord forgives many times whenwe do not.IS ALL PROPHECY REAL?If it is prophecy it is real. It is not genuine prophecy

unless it is of God. Anything which is of God is real.A spoken word is not infallible. The fact that Paul set

judges in the church shows that there may be somethingspoken which is not anointed of God, (I COl'.14:29). Theydid not judge prophecy, but they judged the individual,to see whether or not what he was speaking was realprophecy or .i ust mere human words.God had a way for the people to .i udge the spoken words

by prophets in the Church in the wilderness, to tell whetheror not it was true prophecy.God has a way for men to .i udge the spoken words by

people in the Church in this age, to tell whether or not itis a real prophecy.The prophets who judge in the Church should have dis-cerning of spirits (lCor. 1 :29).IF PROPIJECY IS NOT REAL PROPHECY, IS IT

THEN OF THE DEVIL?No, many good people, who have the Holy Ghost, may

speak without the anointing- or the Spirit. 1 1 1 that way theyare speaking by their own spirit. Itmay be a product oftheir own mind.IS IT NOT WRON(; FOR TIIElVfTO DO THAT?It is not exactly right. But we cannot say that they aresinning by doing so. Some of them are very zealous and

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are Teaching out, trying to do something for the Lord. Theymay speak good words, which are from an impression,or from an inspiration they have received from a sermon.They will soon learn the mind of the Spirit. Before longthey will know how to be led by the Lord. They will learnto wait on the leadings of the Holy Spirit.WILL NOT THIS HURT TIlE CHURCH SERVICES?Sometimes altar calls and sermons may be interrupted bysomeone speaking out without the leading of the Spirit. Butwho can say that it would be anymore wrong than a manpreaching without the leading of the Spirit, or praying,merely using his own words.The Lord says that anytime we speak that it should beas the oracles of God (I Peter 4 :11). It is important thatwe have the mind of the Lord in any kind of church service.God is a Spirit. They that worship Him must worshipHim in Spirit, (John 4 : 23). Itis displeasing to the Fatherfor LIS to carryon any part of the service in our own humanspirit, whether it be sermon, testimony, prayer, or conduct-ing the services, It is worse in God's eyes for one to do sodeliberately than to do it with a sincere heart, trying todo something for the Lord. Many sermons are knowinglyand deliberately delivered in the own human spirit, usingnatural ability. This is very sacrilegious and vain. It isbringing the product of man as a sacrifice to the Lord asCain did. God did not send the fire and consume it.A man who is not anointed and led by the Lord to preachshould never critize anyone for speaking out of place inprophecy. A man without the Spirit cannot judge. Hisown actions show that he has no discerning of spiritualthings, or he would not conduct services in his own humanspirit. He that is spiritual judges all things, and not he whomerely has an education of the natural mind.WILL GOD PUNISH THOSE FOLK WHO PROPHESYlN THEIR OWN SPIHIT?If they are sincere, and do not know how to yield to theLord, then lIe will bear with them; so should we. Theyare trying their best and may make the best of Christians

HOIH clay.I r your little girl would ask for bread the wrong waywOIII(1you let her starve? No you would look at her motives.

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You would feed her, even if she did not use the best man-ners. You would look at her attitude.If a Christian is honest and sincere and it trying to dohis best he will not resent correction. If he has a good spiritthe past can help him to become a good worker for the Lord.Some preachers after they are through preaching keep ontalking in their own spirit. God will bear with them and helpthem if they are trying their best and doing the best theyknow how.Many Christians after they aloe through prophesying keepon talking in their own spirit. God will bear with them andhelp them if they are trying their best and doing the bestthey know how. _SHOULD A PASTOR CALL PEOPLE DOWN IF THEYARE OUT OF ORDER WHEN THEY PROPHESY?A minister should not deal with a case like this publicly.If the one who is out of order is not sincere it will not helphim to call him down publicly. He usually counts it aspersecution. Ire usually gets certain carnal people to sym-pathize with him and forms little whispering groups tocast doubts in the minds of people.To call one down publicly who is not sincere advertisesfor him and gives him publicity. That is what he is seekingwhen he seeks to take over a service.To call one down publicly who is not sincere will put fearinto the heart of some timid person who is sincere, so hewill be afraid of making a mistake or displeasing the pastorand will not yield to the Holy Spirit to be used of the Lord.Thus the Spirit would IJe grieved and the service would bebound. Souls would be lost.WILL TIllS CAUSE ANYMOHE DAMAGE?In many cases it will cause the outsider and unbelieversto believe that it is all a fake, that there is nothing toany of the spiritual gifts which God has set in the Church.They will doubt the genuine.If this is the general feeling then the man who doesnot have the Baptism of the Holy Ghost will be afraid of it,for fear that he will receive a "bogus experience". Some-times he will think that he is as good as the one who hasthe Holy Ghost. Therefore he will not see any need of beingfilled with the power of God.

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THEN HOW SHOULD A PASTOR DEAL WITH APERSON WHO IS NOT SINCERE?The Bible lays down a rule for you to follow when youovertake a brother in a fault.The first step is to go to him, you and he alone. Inabout ninety-five percent of the cases you win him if youconsider yourself.The second step is to carry two or three others with you.lt is very seldom that he will be so bold as to over ruleauthority.The third step is to tell it to the church. Even then wehave no right to make it public to the sinners and unbe-lievers, (Matt. 18:15-17).Then he is considered as a heathen and a publican. Heis no longer a brother. If in one case in a thousand, he keepscoming back and disturbing the service, and you were forcedto call the law, then you would not be going to law witha brother.The best route to deal with all offenders is with faithin God, as Paul advised the church to do. That is what hepracticed, (I Cor. 5:5-1Tim. 1 :30).ARE PREACHERS SOMETIMES MISTAKEN?Yes, 1have seen preachers call a sincere Christian downfor obeying the Lord in prophecy when the preacher wasmistaken and did not know the mind of the Spirit. He wouldhave a struggle the resi of his sermon, for he was workingagainst the Spirit instead of working with the Lord. Therest of his sermon would be in his own spirit.But it is very seldom that a minister does this. When he

does he is sincerely trying to do his best. He just does notdiscern the working of the Holy Spirit. The Lord over lookshim and excuses him, and does not hold it against him, be-cause he is trying to do his best. The trouble is that he killshis own service by working against the Spirit of God.Sometimes a member may know the mind of the Spiritmore so than the preacher, especially when that member hasbeen pray ing more.The Lord is patient with the preacher just the same as

lie i~ patient with a member when the member missestilt' mind o r God.All of WI xhould Dray to have' til ' mind of Chritit" ':-ill( 'inlly

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during a church service. But you cannot have the mind ofChrist during a service and keep your mind on carnal thingsthe rest of the time. If you keep your mind on spiritualthings between services, on your job, or in your home, youcan better understand the working of the Spirit in churchservice.WHAT MUST A MEMBER DO WHEN HE IS CALLEDDOWN UNJUSTLY?As I said, it is a rare thing that this would ever happen.But if it happens to us we should never become bitter inspirit. That bitterness could become worse in God's sightthan the minister making the mistake of calling- you down ina service. It is the trick of the devil for you to become cynicaland critical, and for your victory to be sapped.Why would you not rather suffer wrong? If you aretreated unjustly and take it patiently you will receive areward. The Spirit and glory of God rests on you. God willtake care of that part of it, but it is really the Lord that isbeing dealt with anyway, when a spiritual gift is mis-treated. It is not you at all.Sometimes the Lord may permit something like this foryour own benefit to see if you have any spiritual pride, acritical spirit, or an unforgiving attitude. If you overcomeyou will grow more spiritual; if you don't overcome it, thenit will overcome you.Stay sweet and take the pastor over two pounds of steak.Heap coals of fire on his head. Soon the pastor and otherswill see your good spirit and admire it.

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR MORE; THAN ONE TO PROPH-ESY AT ONE TIME?Had it not been possible then Paul would not have in-structed the people to prophesy one at a time, (I Cor. 14:31).The reason that Paul wrote the instructions, telling themto prophesy one at a time, is that they cross fired each other.Two preachers may feel the same anointing, have thesame message, and both feel like preaching, but only one ofthem should preach at a time.Sometimes a member who prays much may receive thesame message the preacher does. In some cases this membermay bring out the same thoughts in a testimony. This showsthat they are one, and in unity. They both have the mind-7-


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of the Spirit for the hour.Five preachers may be in a service; either of the fivemay preach. They may all feel the same inspiration, onthe same subject, but only one of them should speak tothe people at a time.Five ministers may be present; all of them may feelthe anointing to conduct a healing service. It is all rightto appoint one to go ahead with the healing service.There may be five people in one service with the gift ofprophecy. Either one of the five may prophesy. But it isbest for only one of them to prophesy at a time.IS IT IN OTIDETI FOH THE PASTOI~ TO APPOINT ACERTAIN ONE TO PTIOPHESY IN A GIVEN SERVICE?In most churches this is not necessary. But in otherchurches, in order to keep down confusion, it is better forone person to know that you are depending on him to yieldto the Spirit and prophesy if God anoints in that way. Thenthat one may way, keep the anointing, and be prepared to

prophesy during that service. This would be an extreme casewhen each one stands hack waiting on someone else, 01' whena stranger comes into an assembly and takes over the serviceand dominates everything. A pastor knows the man wholives there, hut dol'S not know the stranger as yet.After all, this would Ill' no more than the pastor appoint-ing one of I'iv pl'('acllt'rs who can preach, or when all ofthem nrc trying to preach.This is no IlIOI'(' Limn selecting one to take charge of ahealing service, or one evangelist being appointed to leada revival.If each individual knew perfectly how to be led of theSpirit this would not be necessary. In a few churches wherea problem arises the pastor may receive a word of wisdomfrom the Lord to solve the problem in this way.IS IT ALL HIGHT FOn MORE THAN ONE PERSONTO PROPIIESY IN ONE SERVICE '?It is all righ t for two or th ree preachers to preach inone service, one at a time; but still it is all rig-ht to appointthe om's to do the preaching in a given service.II IS all right [or two or three to speak in tongues in one

IWI'vin'. in gi ving-ou t a message; hut still it is all right in80111(1 ('HHI'H, to keep down con fusion, to appoint those three

people to give out messages in that one given service, (I Cor.14 :27).Itis right for two or three to prophesy in one given serv-ice, but still it is right in some cases, to keep down con-fusion, to appoint those three people to give out the messagesin prophecy.IF TWO OR THREE PEOPLE SPEAK IN PROPHECYIN THE SAME INSTANT WOULD ALL THREE SAY

THE SAME WORDS?No, they would not have the same vocabulary. They mayeach begin to explain a thought with a different phrase.One may speak in the first person; another may speak inthe second person; wh ile another may speak if! the thirdperson.They would all three have the same message; but theywould choose their own words to express the thoughts, orthe message which God gave. God would anoint those wordsas they spoke them.There are dlversities of operations. If God wants to Hemay give each of the three persons a message, speakingthe same words. But in most cases He lets them choosetheir words. One speaker has more words at his commandthan another speaker may have.The Lord may anoint two writers to write on the samesubj ect. They would both bring out the same truths, butwould not speak the same words, or use the same style inwriting. One would need to use ten pages, while another withmore words at his command would use only eight pages.The holy men of God wrote as they were moved by the

Holy Ghost. The same Spirit was prompting each of themto write the Scriptures. But each of them had their ownstyle of writing and own vocabulary.The gospel writers all wrote the same message about thelife, death, and resurrection of Christ. But all you need todo is to search tile [our Gospels for yourself to cee that they

told the same story, using different words and differentphrases.WHY DOES TIlE LORD NOT GIVE EVERY SPEAKERTHE SAME WORDS AS THEY PROPHESY?If He were to do that some of the speakers would notknow the meaning of the words which he was speaking; for

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some folk are very limited in their vocabulary. In differentsections of the country people have different expressions anddialects. So God lets each speaker speak the language whichhe can understand, and which his neighbors may understand.Either of three ministers may speak the same message,

using different words. They may use different illustrations,adjectives, and adverbs.One preacher may use one hundred words to explain a

point, while another would use seventy-five.Two people may testify, but they may use different wordsto explain their feelings. Yet both of them may be inspired.SHOULD A PASTOR LET A RANK STRANGER COME

INTO AN ASSEMBLY, TAKE OVER THE SERVICEAND DO THE PROPHESYING?God holds a pastor responsible; He said that He did not

want a certain lady, who posed as a prophetess, to speakin the church service (Rev. 2 :20). He held this against theleader of the church. If the pastor has no one to prophesy,and God shows him that the stranger is all right, then it isall right for him to ask them to feel free to give outprophecy.The pastor should have discerning of spirits enough to

know if the stranger is all right. But if he has discerningof spirits he knows the mind of the Lord and does not needto depend on the stranger to prophesy. lIe would have moreinfluence than the stranger. Most of the time he may giveout the prophecy himself. Why would he turn the serviceto a rank stranger?If the pastor has someone to prophesy, and has the least

doubt about the stranger, then he should ask the one whohas been proven to go ahead with the m issagea.Would the pastor be obligated to let a rank stranger

into his pulpit and preach unless God led him to do so?Would the pastor be obligated to let an evangelist who has

not been proven come into his church and conduct a revivalunless he is led of the Lord to do so?Would a pastor be obligated to let a stranger come into his

church and conduct a healing service, without an invitation,unless he is led of the Lord to do so?A pastor would not want a stranger to come

visit all his members and teach them unless he know him.-10-

Would he want a stranger to advise his members and coun-sel with them unannounced?No, the Lord is the chief shepherd. The pastor is the un-

dershepherd. God holds the pastor responsible. His is con-cerned about what the sheep are fed. He is ever looking lestthere may be a wolf in sheep's clothing.SUPPOSE THE PASTOR MAKES A MISTAKE SOME-

TIME AND TURNS DOWN A GOOD PERSON ANDDOES NOT MAKE HIM WELCOME?Suppose you do not invite a "good person" home with

you for dinner? There is always another day.The Lord understands our motives. He is willing to over-

look our mistakes if we are doing our best. He will bless usfor trying. He rewards us not because we are always success-ful, but because we are faithful.A bachelor who has never reared children can ten others

how to rear children. Some folk who have never pastoredare ready to tell us how.SHOULD A PASTOR STOP ME FROM PROPHESY-ING IN HIS SERVICE WHEN I AM IN THE RIGHT,

WOULD I BE FAILING GOD?You are not sinning by cooperating with that pastor. The

responsibility is on the pastor. If he is deliberately wrongGod will deal with him.If he is doing his best God will bless him and try to teach

him the right way. Ninety-nine percent of the time theyare doing all they know.The Lord does not require you to go into a church and

take over the services against the wishes of the pastor.The one that does so is not showing a good spirit.WOULD I BE SHOWING A BAD SPIRIT TO PROPH-

ESY AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE PASTOR?You would be showing a very bad spirit. The pastor is

the head of the church. You are commanded to obey thosewho have the rule over you. An unteachable spirit, a spiritof stubbornness, a rebellious spirit, and a spirit that doesnot cooperate with the head of the church is a bad spirit.But many sincere people think they are above the pastor,so they go ahead and criticize him.Like James and John they don't know what manner ofspirit they are of. The reason that I would criticize the presi-

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dent of the United States may be that unconsciously I wantpeople to think that I know more than the president. Thereason some good folk criticize the pastor is unconsciouslythey would like people to think they are more spiritualthan he.HAVE YOU EVER MET PEOPLE LIKE THAT?A few, but not too many; a very small percent of thepeople are that way. The rest of them are in God's will andare being used of God.Just because a banker finds a counterfeit dollar he doesnot discard all dollars and throw them away. Just becauseyou find a hyprocrite once or twice in a year does not meanthat you would throwaway all Christianity.Just because you may find a small percent of the peoplewho do not use prophecy perfectly is no proof that youshould discard all prophecy and despise it.CAN YOU TELL AN INCIDENT WHERE SOMEONEREBELLED AGAINST THE PASTOR?

I don't like to mention the negative side, but I can useone case as an illustration:A pastor asked the leader of the young people to dismissservices in the young people's department Sunday eveningat 7 :00 o'clock, com" to the main auditorium and be ready tobegin the Sunday night evangelistic services all together.There were not too many in the large auditorium withoutthe people from th irty-Fivc years old downward. Most ofthe people wanted to be under thirty-five; so they were inthe young people's service.The pastor waited until about 8 :00 o'clock. Several out-siders and sinners were in the auditorium waiting for theevangelistic services that had been announced and adver-tised. The pastor had studied all the week and prayed, pre-paring for the main service. He was looking forward forsouls to be saved. He wanted to build his Sunday nightservices.Ilo was embarrassed and miserable. He hated to say any-thing to the young people. But finally he sent word forthem to dismiss their services, 01' rather move their servicesto th main auditorium.

'l'he young folk's leader said that she should obey Godmllllll" than man. The Lord was blessing their services in-12-

the basement. They were praising the Lord and prophesying.They were enjoying it and thought it was more spiritualthan the main services. They could take their freedom betterdown there where there were no visitors. She told thepastor that she would be failing the Lord and sinning ifshe "quenched the Spirit" and came up to the main service.She backslid and went to the devil. She influenced sev-eral of the young folk to quit the church. The churchwas split.While I was there in a revival she came over and wokeme up about two o'clock in the morning. She had not sleptany.She told me her story and expected me to agree with her.I did not agree with her: I told her this: "The pastor isthe head of this church. Anything with two heads is de-formed."Even if you were right and the pastor wrong, you wouldstill be wrong for rebelling against authority and splittingthe church and causing souls to be lost. The Lord wouldnot have held you responsible had it not been His perfectplan. The pastor was responsible to God to lead the churchthe best he knew how. You should have done what youwere asked to do and moved your service to the main floor."As long as you are in a church 'you are working underthe leader of that church. If you cannot cooperate withhim, and don't intend to, then gracefully move to a churchyou can work with, and keep serving the Lord. Why tryto tear up the church T"

The lady made everything right with the Lord and thepastor. We had a long, fruitful revival. The church rolled on!SHOULD TI-IE PREACHER'S MESSAGE EVER BEINTERRUPTED BY A MESSAGE IN PROPHECY?I have seen a service, once in a great while; after a min-ister makes a mistake, goes over the climax of his message,and keeps on talking; that the service was blessed by amessage in prophecy. The minister appreciated it when hesaw what the Lord did.In some cases an individual Christian feels the sameanointing which the preacher feels. This Christian who isin connection, feels the same inspiration which the preacherfeels. He is so overjoyed that he just takes the message

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away from the minister and says the same thing the min-ister was going to say! He has the same anointing and thesame message as the minister, although it may not be thesame words. Had he waited the minister would have broughtout the same truth.The individual may not have as much influence as the

minister. It is even possible sometime for the altar call tobe affected, and not as many souls saved as there wouldhave been had the preacher given out the prophecy himself.If the preacher is anointed with the Holy Spirit why

would the Holy Ghost interrupt himself? Sometimes theLord may see fit to work a service in that way, and let areal anointed sermon be interrupted, but it would not bethat way in every service. Itwould be an exception ratherthan the rule.WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE IN A CASE WHERE

THE MINISTER IS INTERRUPTED EVERY SERVICE?There is no set rule. One must be led by the Spirit. If you

are led by the Spirit at home, between services, you willknow how to be led by the Spirit in church, and when toprophesy. If you listen to a worldly program on the radioor television between services, then you may not know themind of the Spirit in church. You may get ahead of theLord and prophesy too soon, or wail too long.Don't be too anxious to display your gift. If the minister

~as the gi.ft of ~rophecy he will bring out the same messageif you will walt just a minute. The more anointing thepreacher has the easier it usually is for you to prophesy.You can tell if your prophecy adds to the service. Everyone

else can usually tell also.If the pastor and evangelist appreciate you and invites

you to continue prophesying then you may be doing good.If they don't seem happy about it; if they ignore you, andfrown on you, then it may be best to leave it to them todo the prophesying. God is not the author of confussion. Hewill hold the leaders responsible, and not you, if you areresented, and refused.IN CASE THERE ARE FIVE PEOPLE PRESENT

WITH TIlE GIFT OF PROPHECY, WllICH OF TlIEMSHOULD GIVE OUT MESSAGES '?No L more than two or three of them should speak in

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one service, and one at a time. If they cross fire each other.and if there is confusion, then the pastor may feel freeto appoint certain ones to give out prophecy. That is seldomthe case. In most of the places we must spend nine-tenthsof our time trying to encourage people to obey the Lord.Most churches don't have enough to regulate. They all

hold back and are too timid to go ahead and obey the Lord.Should the pastor appoint one to prophesy in the church itshould be someone who is not a novice, one who spends

much time in secret prayer and in reading the Word ofGod, one who lives a life above reproach, one that pays hisgrocery bill.The one who gives out prophecy is as important in the

services as some who preaches a sermon.HOW THEN WOULD A BEGINNER HAVE A CHANCE

TO PROPHESY?In many cases the beginner should begin prophesying in

prayer meetings, in grove services, or midweek prayerservices. The gift will soon develop and the beginner willgrow more bold. Soon he will have faith to prophesy in reg-ular services.The Bible says that we should prophesy according to the

proportion of our faith (Rom. 12 :6). As we exercise ourfaith it will grow (II Thes. 1 :3).Many people who have faith to prophesy in a midweek

service do not have enough faith to resist the pressurethat would come- against them in a revival service, or ina convention of ten thousand people.IS TIIERE MUCH GOOD ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH

PROPHECY?Had there been no use in prophecy then God would not

have set it in the church (ICor. 12). Prophecy reveals thesecrets of men's hearts and causes them to fall down ontheir face and report that God is 4n you to a truth, (ICor.12:24-25). Prophecy comforts many broken hearts andwounded spirits. Prophecy is for exhortation (1 Cor. 14:3).Great revivals have broken out as a result of prophecy.

After the secrets of men's hearts are made manifest a gen-eral confession and restitution follows many times, whichsets off a revival spark. Prophecy is one of the greatestgifts, which brings valuable results.

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IS SOME PROPHECY MORE EFFECT1VE THANOTIlER PROPHECY?Some preaching is more effective than other preaching.Some sermons have a heavy anointing while other sermonsare not so anointed.

The one who prophesies should spend much time in read-ing and seeking so that the prophecy will be more anointed.We prophesy according the proportion of our faith. Faithcomes bv hearing the Word of God and praying in theHoly Ghost (Jude 20).After much prayer and seeking God a man has muchboldness, a better deliverance than one who keeps his mindon carnal pleasures at home. The man who has more faithcan take authority and dominion over the powers of dark-

ness and opposition which come against the church service;thus his prophecy goes over in a greater measure.Some prophecy has more effect just as some preachinghas more effect.SHOULD ONE STAND WHEN HE PROPHESIES?There is no set rule. People do differently in one part

of the country than they do in another.Most people conclude that it is better to stand whenyou start to give out a prophecy. It is better in most placesand under most conditions.If you will stand and raise your hands and speak forci-bly then people will know that the prophecy is going forth:then they will be reverent. The doubts will flee and you willhave freedom. You will see more results. If you do not dothis someone on tht' other side o r a larg"l' auditorium, who

is not in hearing- distnucc o r you. may not know that proph-ecy is being given. They may talk, or they may give outprophecy at the same Lime.SHOULD WE SEEK PEUSONAL GUIDANCETHROUGII PIWPllECY?

The Holy Ghost will lead and guide you into all truth.If that is true then 'you have the Holy Spirit to lead youwithout someone else speaking to you by prophecy.If you have the lIoly Ghost to guide and lead you thenyou don't need to depend on the prophecy of the other fel-low. You receive the loadings of the Lord and know Hiswill; then prophecy may confirm it.

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SHOULD SOMEONE PROPHESY OVER ME ANDTELL ME TO GO SOMEWHERE AND PREACH?Just after I was converted, while I was in South Texas,about eighteen miles from town, in a country church, onenight two ladies laid hands on me and prophesied. They saidthat the Lord was calling me to go into the work in the fulltime ministry.

The next morning I mentioned it to my uncle, who hadbeen a minister for many years. He said, "If the Lord wantsyou to preach lIe will talk to you about it."It was not long until the Lord led me to go into business.Then about ten or twelve years later He did call me topreach. Had I relied altogether on prophecy I would haveIIlO doubt gone to preach right then. Undoubtedly theprophecy was real. But the Lord had a schooling to sendme through before He could use me. You see the folly ofrelying on the other fellow and not being led of the Lordyourself. You have the Holy Ghost to guide you.

After God spoke to me and dealt with me about preachingthen I was sure.A LADY PROPHESIED OVER ME AND TOLD METHAT THE LORD WAS CALLING ME INTO CERTAINTOWN TO PREACH. MUST I GO?First, you should have the Holy Ghost to lead you. Hewill guide you into all truth. Then itmay be that God willconfirm it with prophecy.If you ,should go to that town, not knowing the will of the

Lord, ignorant of the leading of the Spirit, then you wouidhave to take the lady with you to prophesy and tell youevery move to make after you reached that town. His sheepknow His voice.After the early Church had fasted and prayed the HolyGhost spoke and said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saulfor the work whereunto I have called them (Acts 13 :2).The Lord had already caned them and spoke to them aboutthat ministry .The y did not rely altogether on prophetic ut-terance.IS IT POSSIBLE FOR SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO BE GIVENBY PROPHECY?Itmay be possible for a Spiritual gift to be given to youwhile someone is prophesying. Even at that God would deal

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with you and tell you how, when, and where to use thatgift or it would never do you any good.Even after you receive a gift there is a danger of neg-

lecting it. Sometimes it needs stirring up.A gift was given unto Timothy when the presbytery laid

hands on him and prophesied (lTim. 4 :14). This may havebeen a ministerial gift which was given unto him as he wasordained. He was to be over a church.God is yet sovereign. He divides the gifts to people as He

wills, not as we will (I Cor. 12: 11). We cannot set a fastrule and say that God must give gifts in that way. He knowsthe how; He knows the place; He knows the time. We can'tannounce that in a certain service night, that God will be giv-ing the gift of prophecy, unless God shows us before handthat He is going to do it then and there.WHAT IS THE USUAL WAY FOR GOD TO GIVE THE

GIFT OF PROPHECY?God first deals with you along this line and uses you

in this way; then if He so desires. He may confirm it withprophecy.If you claim a certain gift because someone prophesied

over you and said that you had it, before God deals withyou about it, you might be mistaken. The one who proph-esied over you would need to go along and show you howto use that gift, since you wouldn't know the mind of theLord for yourself.DOES ANYONE EVER DO THAT WAY?It would be a very small percentage if any.One man in Seattle, Washington wanted a special inter-

view with me, which I consented unto.The next day he revealed to me his problem. "I have fivegifts, but I don't know how to make them work. I noticethey have been working in this meeting. I wish you .couldtell me how to make my five gifts work. I can give peoplegifts anytime I want to, but I don't know how to makemy five gifts work."I studied awhile and then said, "Brother, you are far

advanced. I can't help you. I have never been that far along.I have never read in the Bible that any man said that hehad five gifts but did not know how to make them work.But such as Peter had he gave it to the lame man, and

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it worked!"ARE YOU IN DANGETI OF HECEIVING THE WRONG

SPIRIT WI-IEN YOU PROPHESY?If you are under the blood the devil cannot touch you.A teacher in a school put a coin under the water and told

a student to get it. lIe could not close his hand to pick upthe coin, because the water was electrified.If you are under the blood you are electrified; Satan can-

not touch you, as far as making you prophesy by his power.A drunkard, who is devil possessed out in a honkv tonk

with the other man's 'wife may jabber and have counterfeitprophecy. But in OUl' churches we don't have freedom toprophesy until we plead the blood, rebuke Satan, and waituntil the Holy Spirit anoints us to prophesy.If your little boy asks you for a fish you will not give him

a serpent. IIow much more will the Lord give the HolySpirit to I1is children! (Luke 11:13). If you ask for theHoly Spirit you will not receive the devil, according to whatJesus said.Trust the Lord; rely on Him; don't be afraid that He

will give you the wrong spirit. God does not give bogusexperiences to His children.In prophecy God does not speak to your mind, 01' to your

ears, but to YOLlI' spirit. Spiritual gifts work through yourspirit.God speaks to your spirit and gives you a message just as

he gives a minister a message. As you begin to deliver themessage God anoints you to do so.A preacher walks to the pulpit to deliver a message. He

knows the message that he is going to deliver, hut he doesnot know the words which he is going to chose. He choosesthe words as he gets to them. Cod anoints them. So it is withprophecy.IS TIl EnE ANY DANGER IN SEEKING PERSONAL

GUIDA CE BY PHOPIlECY?If you have the Holy Ghost to guide you why would you

need someone to guide you by prophecy'?If you do not know the leading of the Lord you may put

your own interpretation on prophecy.For instance one person may want to go to California;

another wants to get married; another wants to sell his-19-


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farm; another wants to preach; and other wants to get adivorce. Someone speaks in prophecy and says, "Yea, theLord says unto you go." One man goes to California; some-one gets married; another sells his farm; another gets adivorce; another goes out to preach."The best way is to know God for yourself; get a leading

from God; then if the Lord wants to confirm it by prophecy,well and good.A lady recently had it in her heart to get a divorce andremarry. Someone spoke out in prophecy, "Delight thyselfalso in the Lord and He shall give thee the desires of thineheart." She began to rej oice and said that God had grantedher the desires of her heart.His sheep know His voice.DOES PROPHECY EVER CONDEMN OR PASS JUDG-

lVIENTON PEOPLE?Prophecy is for exhortation and comfort.Prophecy mostly encourages God's people to have faithin God and trust Him to help them to overcome their prob-

lems. While you are exhorting people by prophecy you maywarn them of the coming judgment and tell them that theymust straighten up their lives and be prepared.In the case of the ministry of Jeremiah prophecy uncov-

ered sin and warned the people of coming .i udgment. It re-veals the secret of people's hearts. It is not a general rulethat it would get personal and embarrass an individual inthe audience. The chief purpose of prophecy is to exaltJesus. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy(Rev. 19:10).IS IT IN OIu)ER TO PROPHESY OUT OF THE

CHURCH HOUSE?God has set the gifts in the Church. We are the Church.

In the New Testament days there were no church houses.God used the people anywhere they were, in the highways,hedges, open air meetings, in the homes, and on the streets.As Saul was on a journey and reached a certain hill the

Spirit of God came on him and he prophesied (ISam. 10:10).Saul's messengers began to prophesy as they carried a mes-age to Naioth (ISam. 19:20). Eldad and Medad prophesiedin the camp. Some of the people thought they should not

do it; but Moses told them that it was all right (Num.11:26).This does not mean that a private group of people in a

church should start a little group, that is opposed to thepastor, without making the pastor welcome. The pastor isthe head of the church.IN ONE PLACE THE BIBLE SAYS FOR THE PROPH-

ETS TO SPEAK ONLY TWO OR THREE. IN ANOTHERVERSE WE SEE THAT ALL MAY PROPHESY (I Cor.14:29-31). IS THERE A CONTRADICTION?There is a difference in prophets and those who may

have the gift of prophecy. A prophet is one who has anoffice of a prophet. It is a ministerial gift (Eph. 4 :11). Hemayor may not have the spiritual gift of prophecy, whichis a supernatural utterance. You may have the Spiritual giftof prophecy and yet not have the office of a prophet.A prophet is over those who have the gift of prophecy.

He is to .i udge whether or not the service is in order (I Cor.14 :29). IIe has more authority. He is over the rest of theChristians (Acts 20~8) .WHY DOES SOME PROPHECY PRODUCE SEEMING-

LY LITTLE RESULTS?Some people who prophesy pray more, just as some

preachers pray more. They have more results. Some prayless and have less results. Some know less of God's Word.Some have less faith and boldness.Like preachers some folk who prophesy stop when they

reach the climax. So the people cool off. The message losesits punch. They start in the Spirit of God and end in theirown spirit. They feel good; they mean well; but miss theleading of God's Spirit, as they are in their enthusiasm.The Lord is patient with them as He is a preacher. He sees

that they will make wonderful instruments for Him to workthrough some day.IS IT NOT WnONG FOR THEM TO END IN THEIR

OWN SPIRIT?There are not many of them who do it intentionally. They

soon will learn the leadings of the Lord. The Lord sees theirzeal and their motives. He understands as a mother under-stands her child that tries its best and has not yet learned

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to perfection. She is not quick to punish the child that isdoing all it knows to do. The Lord looks at it as He wouldsomeone that finishes a wonderful testimony and keepstalking because he is blessed.WHY DOES A CERTAIN MAN QUOTE SCIlTPTURESDURING MOST OF HIS PROPHECY?Two preachers may preach the same message. Onepreacher may know hundreds of Scriptures by memory. Theother preacher may not be able to quote any Scripture. Thefirst one may weave dozens of verses in his message, becausehe knew the verses that would express what he wanted tosay. This would make his message more effective. Thesecond preacher may deliver the same message withoutquoting Scriputure by memory.So it is with prophecy. It is certainly in accordance withthe Scriptures. It agrees with the Scriptures and is nevercontrary to them. Tf you have a knowledge of the Word anda good memory you may find a verse to express what youare going to say, especially when the Holy Ghost is theauthor of the Scriptures and prophecy also.

Some folk know enough songs to express most any mes-sage that is on their hearts. Others can't sing. So they mustexpress themselves otherwise.One man in his testimonies may deliver his soulby quoting' Hihlo verst's; another may testify in a different

way. Both arc real.It is not necessary that prophecy be Scripture; it mustbe gaged by Scripture. Mere Scripture quotations are notalways prophecy.WIlY IS PROPHECY ALWAYS ON TIlE SAME SUB-JECT THAT THE PREACHER HAS TN IllS MESSAGE?If the minister and the one who prophesies both have themind of the Spirit they both have the same mind, for boththe sermon and the prophecy are inspired by the HolySpirit. They have the same burden, or the same goal.If the Spirit is dealing with the sinner then both partieswill feel a spirit of conviction. If the Spirit is dealing withthe saints both parties will direct their messages the same

way. If the Spirit is speaking about the coming of the Lord,or judgment, or moving on UI(.~saints to rcj oict-, then hoth

the sermon and the message in prophecy will have the sameSpirit and the same kind of anointing.Itwould not look right for the preacher to be under a bur-den for sinners, and someone prophesying, telling everyoneto rej oice and shout.SHOULD PROPHECY BE FOR OLD SAINTS OR FORYOUNG CONVERTS?Some very few people have taught that prophecy should

be left altogether for the preachers, or those who are oldin the Lord. This is not always true.In the last days your sons and your daughters shallprophesy when the Spirit is poured on all'flesh (Acts 2:17).We are now in those days. All the Spirit filled Christiansmay prophesy (ICor. 14 :31). Paul said he wanted his mem-bers to prophesy (I Cor. 14 :1).Sometimes a young convert may be more yielded to theSpirit and be depending on the Lord more than an educatedman who depends on his talents. His words may be moresimple so the smallest Christian can understand him.Sometimes people may be greatly moved by a little child'sprophecy, knowing that the child is not talking over theirheads; that the child is not using its own wisdom.A little child shall lead them. Out of the mouth of babeshas He ordained praise.However, as a regular one to give prophecy before a coldcritical world in a mixed congregation, an old saint may have

more boldness, more faith, and more Scriptures digested.He migh t be better to break the ice and pray down theanointing so God can use the children. He may not be soeasily discouraged in case of opposition. God knows best.SHOULD THE ONE WHO PROPHESIES BE EDU-UCATED?

The right kind of Bible education may even add to 'andenrich his prophecy. But he must not depend on his educa-tion instead of the Spirit of God. God does not put anyprize on ignorance.The Lord may use anyone of His children.Once in a great while an educated man may be lifted upwith pride and depend on his education more than he doesthe Lord.

Saul was a plow boy who Wag on his way to hunt his work-23-

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animals. The Spirit of God came on him and he prophesied,(1Sam. 10).Elisabeth, Marv, and l Iannah prophesied. Eldad andMedad prophesied ( Tum. 11). The Lord uses the weak toconfound the mighty. He has revealed these things to babesand hid them from the wise and prudent.

DID PEOPLE PHOPlIESY BEFORE PENECOST?As 1have mentioned, Saul, Elisabeth, Mary, Hannah, andmany of the Old Testament saints prophesied.The Holy Spirit moved upon certain individuals fromthe outside. He moves from within us, using any memberHe may choose. They were filled with the Holy Spirit. Weare baptized with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dweltwith them; IIe dwells in us. The anointing abides in us.In our day God has set the gifts in the Church; we are theChurch. While God used them occasionally to prophesy, wecan't say that they had gifts divided to them as is describedin I Corinthians Twelve. Our body is the temple of theHoly Ghost.CAN PROPHECY MEAN THAT ONE IIAS BEEN BAP-TIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST'?

Since people prophesied before the day of Pentecost wecannot say just because someone prophesied they havethe Baptism of the Holy Ghost. All the gifts except two weremanifested before Pentecost, as the llolv Spirit moved UP-ON certain individuals.

IS IT ALL IUCllT FOI~ A WOMAN TO PIWPIIESY?Mary. l':lisal)('t h. l lunnah and Deborah prophesied. Philiphad foul' rluugh tcrs that prophesied. Paul permitted womento prophesy (I Cor. II). (;ocl said that in the last days, just])CfOl'C tho sun t urns to darkness that the women and thegirls would prophesy (Act 2 :15-20).

CAN ONE rn.OPHESY AT ANYTli\IE HE IS ASKEDTO DO SO'?Maybe he can with his own spirit, which docs little good.A man may make you a gift of an electric iron, hut itwould do little good unless it was plugged into the socketand the switch turned on.A soldier boy may he given a gun, but he must not fireuntil he is given orders to fire.You cannot have a dream or a vision at anytime you

want to. We don't lise gifts; gifts use us. Spiritual giftsare operated hy the Spirit, not our own spirit. We mustbe led by the Spirit. Spiritual gifts are not operated separatefrom the Holy Ghost.ARE NOT THE SPIRITS OF THE PHOPIlETS SUB-JECT TO THE PROPHETS?Yes, but that does not say that the Spirit of the Lordis subj ect to the prophets. The prophets must he alwayssubject to the Spirit of the Lord.You may he expecting one gift to work through you, butthe Lord would decide to manifest another one throughyou. You may want to prophesy, but God would decide tomanifest the gifts o r healing through you. lIe divides thegifts to every man as HE wills.

1 KNO\\' A ~TAN WHO rIWPIIESIED AT CHURCHWHO OWED A GROCERY BILL. IS THAT TRUEPROPHE('yt

The g rocerrnen may not think so. He mav stumble overhim. The man would have more influence if he would paytho hill. Somet in.es it may even he better to let othersprophesy. if thev are available, until the man pays the bill.Anyone who would deliberately heat a grocery bill wouldsteal were not for public opinion.

Rut nearly all the people who heat a grocery hill are .i ustbad managers. Brother S. did the preaching and his wifedid the managing. She bought all the groceries. After SisterS. died it was left for BrotherS. to make a living for hissix children. All he k now to do was to go to the store andhuy groceries when his children became hungry, just ashis wife did.We found that he had no more business ahility than asix year old hoy.lIe sincerely meant to pay, hut good salesmen would sellhim more than he could pay for.

lIe cried and pl'ay('d nearly all the time. God blessed asincere, honest, had manager.IS IT RTGHT TO EN(,OURAGE ALL THE PEOPLETO rltOI'III~SY AT ONE TIME'!If people are being addressed in the prophecy then onlyone should speak at a time (ICor. 11 :31).If the prophecy is in the form of a praise, 01' worship-

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ping the Lord, then several may speak at one time; for theLord can hear all of them. (Acts 19:6).Elisabeth, Mary Hannah, Deborah, Moses, and David ad-dressed the Lord in prophecy, in a prophetic prayer orpraise. (I Sam. 2:1-11).SUPPOSE I BEGIN TO PROPHESY IN AN EVANGEL-ISTIC SERVICE, ADDRESSING THE PEOPLE, ANDSOMEONE ELSE BEGINS TO PROPHESY AT THESAME TIME?You should prefer your brother and be subject to him.Let him go ahead and give out the message.DOES THE GIFT OF PROPHECY ABIDE IN TIlEOHURCH, IN THE HOLY GHOST, OR IN THE BE-LIEVER?We have people that teach the three different ways,and all three groups are right. The gifts abide in the HolyGhost. Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost (I Cor.6 :19). And you are the church. The church is a group ofHQ!y Ghost filled people.

SHOULD PROPHECY BE PERMITTED IN THECHURCH WHERE SINNERS ARE PRESENT?We have a few pastors that don't think so. They willpermit prophecy to be given out in the basement, in a be-lievers' meeting, but not in the main service where sinnersare. It is good that prophecy is permitted somewhere.Saul prophesied out in the open. Eldad and Medad proph-

esied in the camp, (Num. 11:26). Paul said that prophecywould cause sinners to fall down and confess the Lord (1Cor. 14:24-25).No doubt the words that Peter spoke on the day of Pente-cost were spoken through prophetic utterance. Three thou-sand people were saved.

SHOULD PROPHECY EVER BE WRITTEN?The prophecy of Moses, Hannah, Deborah, Mary, David,and Elisabeth was written. People who are full of the HolySpirit can understand it. Others may put the wrong inter-pretation on it.Some one told me I had the gift of prophecy. Do you

think I have?If you have the gift of prophecy you will usually prophesy.-26-

Itwill be as fire shut up in your bones; you can't forbear(Jer. 20 :9).You don't need to tell a rooster that he has the gift tocrow. You can tell him not to crow all you want to. Hewill not worry whether or not he is called. He will crow! Itcomes natural with him to crow!I HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY BUT IAM TOOTIMID TO PROPHESY. WHAT MUST I DO?It may be a lack of faith or boldness in the Spirit. Youmust prophesy according to the proportion of your faith.

If you will begin in a small crowd then your faith will growas your crowd grows.IS IT ALL HIGHT FOn SOMEONE TO LAY HANDSON ME AND PL~AY THAT GOD WILL GIVE ME THEGIFT OF PROPHECY?There is no set rule. God can give you the gifts as itpleases Him. Sometime God uses different means to stir upthe gift that is alreadv in you. 1f that is God's plan you willsee results. If He is not leading in that direction then youwill see not results.You may stir up the gift in you by fasting, praying,reading, listening- to preaching, or by agreeing together withsomeone in prayer.You must be willing to receive anv gift God wants youto have. You may h(' seeking the gift of prophecy and Godwould give you the gift of tongues. lIe is the one to decidewhich gif't fit your life.

COUll> TIlE GIFT OF PROPTlECY BE DOHMANT INMY LIFE?It seems that it is sometimes the case. As you obey theLord and go from faith to Iaith you will soon have boldnessto prophesy. As you hegin to obey Cod lIe will begin to

add fuel to the fire.The man who had two talents used them, and Goel gavehim two more. The man who did not use his talent lostwhat he had.IS IT ALL nTGTIT FOR ME TO PRAY FOR THE GIFTOF PHOPHECY?Daniel prayed for a word of knowledge and God answeredhis prayer and showed him what the king dreamed. Earn-

estly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Covet-27-


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earnestly the best gift. Be willing for the Lord to give youany gift IIe wants to. IIe gives as He wills.IS PROPHECY THE GREATEST OF ALL GIFTS?The Bible does not say so. We don't see that prophecy isany greater than healing, miracles, or the gift of faith. Thebest gift is the one that is needed in a given service. Youmay seek what you think is the best and He will show you

a more excellent way.We are the vessels of God. A vessel does not say what isto be put into it.WIlY DO SOME FOLl< DISLIKE PROPHECY?The natural mind cannot understand it. Like Cain somepeople want a selfrighteous, carnal, home-made religion.Men have replaced prophecy with education, natural wisdom,and programs. They have no Holy Ghost, but are strangersto God's power.WHY DO SOME CHURCHES DISCARD PROPHECY?For the same reason that some denominations have dis-

c~rded shouting and substituted will-worship, programs,rituals, and man-made forms. Since they have learned howto have church service, they don't feel their dependence onthe Holy Spirit.Some good pastors have discarded praise services becausesome took advantage of the service in testifying andpreached. Some good pastors have smothered out all proph-ecy bpeause someone took advantage of prophecy and used

that as a way to take over the service. The pastor shouldhave. dealt. with the individual privately and let God keepblesaing Ills service. In stopping the had, he has stoppedthe good.WHAT M(IST TilE PASTOn DO WHEN SOMEONESPEAKS [ ms OWN SPIIUT?. Firs.t, he must realize that they arc good people with goodintentions who do so. In this case the pastor should readI Thessalonians Five, "Quench not the Spirit. Despise notprophesyings. Prove all things; Hold fast to that wh ichis good."

That explains itself. He should prove all th ings. One wayto prove all things is this way: When you reprove a goodperson he will not get mad at you. lIe will have a nicespirit and keep coming to church. If he is not a good person

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he will get angry, take it as persecutions, quit church, orfight against the pastor under cover. The pastor did notneed him in the first place.After the pastor proves them he should hold fast to thatwhich is good and keep them. Never despise prophecy anddiscard it all. It discerning of spirits and a word ofwisdom for this in many cases. The pastor must be muchin prayer.THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT PROPHECY SHALLCEASE. WHEN WILL THAT BE?Itwill cease when that which is perfect is come, or in thatperfect age, (I Cor. 13 : 8-10).Now we know in part. Then we shall know all things. Paulsaid that he would be in that perfect age (v. 12). Spiritualgifts were put in the Church at the same time that ministe-rial gifts were placed in the church, (I Cor. 12:28).They willpass away at the same time, when we come to perfection(Eph. 4). We will need Spiritual gifts as long as we needpastors, teachers and evangelists.Prophecy will not pass away before the great tribulations,which is in the future. God will have people to prophesy then,(Rev. 11).

DO ALL CHRISTIANS HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPH-ECY?. In speaking of the gift God said it is given to certainones (ICor. 12). All may prophesy one by one, but all don'thave the gift (1 Cor. 14 :31).The Lord wants all His children to speak with tongues(I Cor. 14 : 15), but all don't have the gift of tongues (ICor.

12 :30).You may he healed. You may pray for someone else tobe healed, and yet not have the gift of healing. Just becauseyou may prophesy sometimes does not mean that you canclaim the gift.IS IT I'()SStnLE TO lIA VE TIlE GIFT OF PROPHECYAND NOT ]lAVE LOVE !The Bible did not say so. Paul said, "And though I havethe gift of prophecy ... and have not charity I am nothing."In one place he said, "Though an angel from heaven comepreaching any other gospel ... " An angel from heaven

would not do that. He meant, "Though it were possible that-29-


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I could have the gift of prophecy without charity."Faith works hy love. Prophecy works by love.God is love. You can't have true prophecy without God.If you have God you have love.David prayed the power down on Saul and Saul proph-esied; but you can't say that he had the gift of prophecy.CAN ANYONE PROPHESY AT WILL?Prophecy comes not by the will of man, (II Peter 1 :21).God divides that gifts as He wills. We prophesy in part(I Cor. 13 :9). The Holy men of God spoke as they weremoved hy the Holy Ghost, not hy their own spirit.IF I WANT TO PROPHESY ] ro w MUST I BEGIN'?Receive the 110ly Ghost and speak in tongues. Be 'willingto receive any gift God wants you to have. Pray regularly;read God's Word. Pray until you


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No, verse 24 shows that prophecy will cause people to besaved. This verse means that tongues are for a supernaturalsign to them that do not believe, just as the supernaturallanguage was a sign to Belshazzar, (Dan. 5).

Prophecy is not so much a supernatural ::;ign to the UI1-believers, but it bri ngs conviction on them and causesthem to be saved.

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HOME STUDY COURSEDear Brother Grant:OYou may enroll me in the TVD Bible Course. Send 64 titles of your faith books onBible Deliverance, with true and false tests.01 am a Christian over 15 years old. I am wil ling to send $1.00 per week tuition.DAfter I pay tuition for 16 months. I may keep all the text books to be used in God'swork.01 will receive a purple and gold certif icate after I f inish the first course.01 will receive a license to preach when I finish the second course.01will be ordained when I finish the third course; and an honorary Doctor's Degreewhen I finish 7 courses.The TVD College is chartered with Kingsway Bible Col lege, accredited by the Ac

crediting Commission for Specialized Colleges and American Association ofSpecialized Colleges.NAME .

85 Things You Should Know About Prophecy in Our Time by W. v. Grant, Sr

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Transcript of 85 Things You Should Know About Prophecy in Our Time by W. v. Grant, Sr